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TaylorMade’s Sergio Garcia staying upbeat after another narrow major defeat

Sergio Garcia finished joint runner-up alongside American Rickie Fowler on Sunday at the 2014 Open Championship to record his 19th top-10 major in his professional career- but still the search for a maiden victory in the big events goes on.

The US Open, US Masters, British Open, PGA Championship; how is a talent as good as Sergio Garcia not finishing top of the leaderboard?

It was back in 1999 when the Spaniard came home in second place, and he’s been trying to remedy that trend ever since. For some, second would an achievement, a marker on which to build upon so that next time they can strive for total success. For Garcia, however, it has become the norm. No matter how hard he has tried, the simple fact is that he just hasn’t managed to overhaul that one last player to reach the top.

At 34, Garcia still has time on his side, despite losing out to Rory McIlroy who is nine years his junior. But Garcia refuses to hold grudges when he watches players like Rory lifting their third major title.

''Everyone looks at a second and they want to make it a negative. Not at all,'' Garcia said to reporters. ''I did almost everything I could.''

''There was a better player. It's as simple as that.''

Of course, those who were watching The Open would have noticed just how impressive Sergio was. His dominant performance was almost flawless, save for one heart-wrenching moment in the bunker when he was so close to filling the points-gap with McIlroy, but that’s water under the bridge.

Garcia will always be remembered as one of golf's finest players, but he doesn’t want his legacy to be one where he is considered the most talented man never to win a major.

If he doesn’t find out how to win more regularly soon, though, it may well be the case.